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Important Code Change to NFPA 13D Standard

Friday, August 26, 2011

Hastings, MI, USA – The NFPA Standards Council has approved a Tentative Interim Amendment (TIA) to

the 2010 edition of NFPA 13D, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems in One- and Two-Family
Dwellings and Manufactured Homes. This code change, which is effective August 31, revises the design
process for NFPA 13D residential systems for various sloped and/or beamed ceiling arrangements. In the
following situations, ceilings with a pitch of up to 8 in 12, as well as certain types of beamed ceilings, will no
longer require sprinklers with a specific Listing for sloped and/or beamed ceilings:

A smooth, flat sloped ceiling with no beams up to a maximum slope of 8 in 12. The
compartment containing the sloped ceiling shall be a maximum of 600 ft2 (56 m2) in area.
Thehighest portion of the ceiling shall not be more than 24 ft. (7.3 m) above the floor. The highest
sprinkler in the sloped portion of the ceiling shall be above all openings from the compartment
containing the sloped ceiling into any communicating spaces.

A sloped ceiling with beams up to 14 inches deep with pendent sprinklers under the beams.
The compartment containing the sloped, beamed ceilings shall be a maximum of 600 ft2 (56 m2)
in area. The slope of the ceiling shall be between 2 in 12 and 8 in 12. The highest portion of the
ceiling shall not be more than 24 ft. (7.3 m) above the floor. The highest sprinkler in the sloped
portion of the ceiling shall be above all openings from the compartment containing the sloped
ceiling into any communicating spaces.

A sloped ceiling with beams of any depth with sidewall or pendent sprinklers in each pocket
formed by the beams. The compartment containing the sloped, beamed ceiling shall be a
maximum of 600 ft2 (56 m2) in area. The slope of the ceiling shall be between 2 in 12 and 8 in
12. The highest portion of the ceiling shall not be more than 24 ft. (7.3 m) above the floor.

In the above situations, the number of sprinklers in the system’s design area will now be calculated using
the same rules as the current two-sprinkler discharge criteria found in NFPA 13D for smooth, flat,
horizontal ceilings. With this code change, these sloped and/or beamed ceiling arrangements will no
longer require the calculation of additional water flow and/or design sprinklers.

The result of this code change is a simplified, more generic design approach for residential sprinkler
systems. Note that this code change is for the 2010 edition of NFPA 13D and does not impact systems
designed and installed to previous editions of the NFPA 13D standard. This code revision is also in the
process of being adopted for future editions of the NFPA 13D standard, as part of the regular code
development process.

Situations not meeting any of the circumstances listed above will still be allowed based on the sprinkler's
Listing and/or as directed by the AHJ. For NFPA 13R installations, the current code requirements for
sloped and beamed ceilings remain unchanged.

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